Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1887-01-26
0t)e EailaSter littelligeru1
LANCASTER. JANUARY as, lx7.
The Chance OF War.

We are not content to let Europe have
monopoly Of war agitation. The aggres-
sive action of the United States Senate,
taken with such unanimity, has enabled US
10 talk war ourselves. 1t was surprise 10
people generally that there should be such
result to the teapot agitation Of the fisher
les question. The material interests IN
volved are certainly not great enough 10
make it profitable to wage war in main
tanning our side of ths case but
then we cannot allow ourselves to be
imposed upon, even if there is not
much loss inflicted upon US. The spirit Of
this nation would quite certainly sustain
very determined action upon the part Of
the administration in defending just view
of the fishery question. The unsnimity
with which the Senate has decided that
our view Is right, makes 1t certain that the
sense of the public will be the same. As
Canada has determinedly the other view,
we would seem TO be at issue; and war
comes up as the possible final solution.
But 1t Is wholly improbable that matters
will ever reach such a pass. The
Senate has authorized the president to use
retaliatory measures, but this is doubtless
uimply done to make it clear that it con-
ceives its Interpretation Of the treaty to he
correct, and TO convince Canada that we
are in earnest in defending it. The pTesi-
dent is not expected by the Senate TO he
very quick to use the power it has given
him; it is conferred upon him as full.
crum upon which he can better bring
Canada to comprehension of the fact that
she cannot have things all her own way
The Senate's action was right, if its view
Of the treaty is right. The president wi
use the power that Congress may place
in his hands, only when he fails L
reach an amicable understanding with
Canada. Sir John Macdonald itspremier
talks as though the Senate did not under
stand the matter at issue, and he think,
that the patriotic spirit of the Canadian!
will sustain him in insisting upon his view
England, however, will have TO stand bI
Canada to make her position threatening
and England is not likely to burn to PICK
quarrel with this country.
No one believes that war will be the out
come of this talk but that there should b
talk of war is sufficiently interesting in thi
county which has thought itself sure Q
meyer ending peace. We nave no neighbor
of weight enough % invite US to war; IN
less Canada can drag England into tb
quarrel. There may some day be chanc
of this, but hardly now and upon this issue
But while we talk of war il behOove5 Il
TO think how prepared we are for it. W
can hardly be satisfied with the result 0
the inquiry. We have nc. sufficient navy
and no proper protection for our sea coast
Mr.. Tilden thought that we SHOULD
take heed of this and spend our surplu
millions In fertilization. There ls pleut
Of chance to bury our spare money In thi
hole. May be it will be well spen
and may be not. 1t seems reasona
Bile to say that our coast should be 5
protected as not to be at the mercy of foe
II is not believed 10 be 30 now, and mea
sures would be wisely taken that woul
securely defend it. That we need, how
ever to keep afloat a powerful navy q
many ships against the possibility of Wal
we do not believe. The ships would rus
and rot and go out of fashion before the
would be used, and it would not be th
sense Of the nation that a great marir
force should be kept afoat without evider
use for 1t. That we should in SON
way secure a supply of sailors I
man our war ships in time {
need seems an obvious necessity; bu
they could be used in the paths of peac
upon the ocean, awaiting the day Of wa
A mercantile marine, from which II
nation could draw both ships and sailors
swhat we need. Mercantile ships capabl
of being used as war ships and commando
by naval officers should be provided. Iror
clad ships would not answer this use; br
it is doubtful whether they answer even fC
war cruisers, in this day when the power
guns and speed of ships has been so mut
increased. A fast ship carrying a f
reaching gunis by many supposed TO be Il
ideal war cruiser and this is the quail
of the merchant ship. Iron clads for ha
Dor defence, and light and fast cruisers f
ocean service, are the indicated war shiT
He Was Crowded Out.
Gen. Charles p, Stone, one OF the mo